Avenue des Champs-Elysees

NileGuide Expert tip:

Make sure to stop at one end and take in the whole perspective from the Arc de Triomphe to the Obelisk of the place de la Concorde

Description:

• Perhaps not quite so fashionable today as in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the avenue des Champs-Elysées is still the most important street in Paris and should be on everyone's top ten of things to do. It is the best place for late-night shopping and the traditional venue for the grand finishes of the Paris Marathon and the Tour de France and for parades such as the annual Bastille Day celebrations on 14 July. At a shade under 2km (a little more than a mile) long and 70m (230ft) wide, it has plenty of room for flagship stores, historic cafés and restaurants, some greenery and some very fine buildings, such as the Grand Palais, built for the 1900 World Exhibition. Between the place de la Concorde and the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées the avenue is bordered by chestnut trees and gardens. Further on towards the Arc de Triomphe the wide pavements are ideal for window shopping, perhaps for jewellery at Cartier, perfume at the beautiful old Guerlain shop, or one of the many global brand names, such as Disney and Gap, that have set up shop here more recently.
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